Knife guard mechanism



June 29, 1937. w, LmHTY I 2,085,681

KNIFE GUARD MECHANI SM Filed April 17, 1935 t Patented June 29, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a guard mechanism adapted foruse with a utensil such as a paring knife or similar tool; and

the objects of my improvements are, first, to

provide a mechanism for guarding and protecting the fingers of anoperator using a knife or similar tool from being injured and irritatedby contact with the blade of the knife or similar tool; second, toprovide a guard mechanism'for 1,3 aknife or similar tool that may bereadily installed on or removed from the knife or similar tool; third,toprovide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that willcontrol the thickness of the paring or slice of the materialbeing 1;pared; fourth, to provide a guard mechanism for controlling thethickness of the paring or slice made bya knife or similar tool withmeans for adjusting the mechanism to provide parings or 4 slices ofdifferent thicknesses; fifth, to provide a mechanism for a knife orsimilar tool that will enable the operator to develop rectangular orsimilar shaped parings, pieces, strips or slices from an object such asa potato to form what is.

commonly known as shoestring or ffrench fry potatoes; sixth, to providea guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool that will enable theoperator to develop either a conventional slice or a string .or' narrowstrips from said slice; seventh, to provide a guard mechanism for aknife or similar tool that will enable the operator to develop slicesfrom an object being pared and which will leave the tip of the knife orsimilar tool exposed for the purpose of cutting and digging eyes fromsuch objects as potatoes and for similar operations on similar objects;eighth, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar tool thatwill enable the operator to use a thumb for exerting a thrust againstthe corner of the knife without danger from being injured thereby;ninth, to providea guard mechanism for a knife that will enable theoperator to apply a pressure from the fin- I gers to opposite sides ofthe knife blade without injury, irritation, or bruising of said fingers;tenth, to provide a guard mechanism for a knife or similar toolandhaving a deformable portion adapted to be displaced to clear theblade of the knife to permit the knife to be used in a conventionalmanner without reference to the thickness of the paring or slicedeveloped; eleventh, to provide a guardmechanism for a knife that may beused with or without aslicer mechanism adapted for associated usetherewith on the knife; twelfth, to provide a slicer mechanism havingresilient characteristics for gripping the blade of a knife; thirteenth,to provide a guard'mechanism having resilient characteristics forgripping the blade of a knife; fourteenth, to provide a slicer mechanismadapted to be retained on a knife by a guard mechanism mounted on theknife; and fifteenth, to provide a slicer mechanism provided with aplurality of cutters having surfaces abutting the broad side of a knifeblade to absorb the thrust reaction of the cutters of the slicermechanism. 1Q

I attain these objects by the mechanism i1 lustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my guard mechanism, whichcontrols the thickness of conventionalslices, applied to a knife; Fig.2, a side view ofthe guard mechanism and a partial view of the knifedisclosed in Fig. 1; Fig.3, a sectional view of the guard mechanism andknife disclosed in Fig. 2, said sectional view being taken on the line3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a partial plan view of the guard mechanism andknife disclosed in Fig. 1, said guard mechanism being mounted in adifferent adjusted position on the knife to develop a slice of greaterthickness than with the guard mechanism in the position disclosedrelative to the knife in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side View of the guardmechanism installed on a knife, disclosed partially, in association witha second mechanism for developing small slices or strips from aconventional slice of a potato or similar object; Fig. 6, an end view ofmy mechanism and knife as disclosed in Fig. 5', a cross section of theknife blade being disclosed; and Fig. '7, a bottom view of the mechanismand knife disclosed in Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to, similar parts throughout the several views.The knife I is provided With the handle 2 and the blade 3 andconstitutes a conventional par- 0 ing knife used as a kitchen utensiland indicates one of various tools or implements of'similar use andconstruction with which my invention is adapted for use, the blade 3being set into the handle land suitably secured by the rivets orfastening members 4.

The guard mechanism comprises the convoluted portion 5 at its front orforward end which is formed by a wire wound into a plurality of coils 6similar to the coils of a spring member, one end of the wire terminatingat I to form a partial coil.

The wire forming the coils 6 will be extended toformgthe spacer portion8 which extends between and connects and spaces the. convoluted portion5 and the convoluted portion 9 which is formed by further coiling thewire to form the coils I0 which are located to extend beyond and coverthe corner or heel II of the blade 3 thus preventing the thumb of theoperator from engaging the heel II, the thumb being conventionallyplaced adjacent the heel II and held, with pressure, against the lowerside of the handle 2 in the usual paring and slicing operation, acondition that often results in injury to the thumb of the operator andcontinually occasions irritation and inconvenience due to the thumbbeing pressed continually against sharp edges or portions or" the blade3 or handle 2, this condition being eliminated by the thumb engaging myguard mechanism adjacent the smooth surface of the rear portion of thespacer portion 8 and the smooth lower surfaces of the convoluted portion9, the thumb of the operator being indicated at I2, Fig. 5.

It is to be noted that the wire from which the guard mechanism is madewill be further extended upwardly as at I3 and from this point the wirewill be bent to form the portion I4 which extends transversely acrossthe upper side of the knife I at a point substantially adjacent thejunction of the blade 3 with the handle 2, the portion I4 being furtherbent upwardly and curved to form one side I5 of the finger or indexthrust guard or flange I6, the one side of the index thrust guard I6being inclined or bent inwardly to the curved tip or portion H where itis further extended to form the other side I8 of the index thrust guardI6, the sides I6 and I8 being oppositely inclined to form upwardlyconverging sides to present a more eflicient and sightly tip portion II,thelower portion of the side I8 being bent to form the portion I9 whichextends transversely across the upper edge of the blade 3 in a planesubstantially parallel with the portion I 4, the portion I9 as well asone end of the wire, from which the guard mechanism is made, terminatingat 20, the portion I9 contacting the upper edge of the blade 3 andforming a means for transferring the thrust of the index finger againstthe index thrust guard I6 to the blade 3 during the paring or slicingoperation, the index thrust guard I6 being provided with a curvedformation as viewed from the side, in Figs. 2 and. 5, to fit and engagethe index finger of the operator when the knife I together with theguard and slicing mechanisms are held and gripped by the hand of theoperator, the index finger of the operator being indicated at 2I in Fig.5.

It is to be noted that the blade 3 will be inserted between like coilsof the convoluted portions 5 and 9 and will thus be located or spacedfrom the spacer portion 8 with which it extends substantially parallel,the width of the space 22 between the blade 3 and the. side of thespacer portion 8, as viewed in Fig. l, controlling the thickness of theparing orslice which will be pared or sliced from a potato or similarobject, the spacer portion contacting and sliding over the outsidesurface of the potato or similar object during the paring or slicingoperation, the space 22 representing the minimum space and consequentminimum thickness of the paring or slice due'to the blade 3 beingpositioned between the pair of like coils, in each of the convolutedportions 5 and 9, nearest the. spacer portion 8, the diameter of thewire'substantially determining the increments of thickness of the paringor slice, the blade 3 being positioned between the different aosaci.

like pairs of coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 in accordancewith the desired thickness of the paring or slice, the blade 3 beingdisclosed as being positioned between the next pair of like coils of theconvoluted portions 5 and 9 in Fig. 4, resulting in a space 24substantially twice the width of the space 22 in Fig. 1, thus furtherresulting in a consequent increase in the thickness of the paring orslice.

It is to be noted that the spacer portion 8 will be positioned slightlybelow the cutting edge 23 of the blade 3, as viewed in Fig. 2, thusresulting in the space or gap 25 as viewed from the side in Fig. 2, thespacer portion 8 thus being positioned ahead or in advance of thecutting edge 23 so that the thumb I2 of the operator is also positionedaway from and in a protected position where it cannot engage the cuttingedge 23 in the normal paring or slicing operation.

However, it is to be noted that due to the flexible characteristics ofthe wire of which the guard mechanism is made, the spacer portion 8 maybe bent, flexed, or displaced by an added pressure of thumb I2 againstthe spacer portion 8, to substantially the position, as indicated by thedotted lines 26, Fig. 2, and in which position of the spacer portion 8,the knife 3 may be used in a conventional manner, at the central portionof the cutting edge 23, without interference of the spacer portion 8with the potato or similar object which is being pared or sliced, thethumb I2, during the operation, being slidably moved along the spacerportion 8 until the thumb I2 approaches or nearly approaches thelongitudinal central portion of the spacer portion 8, the thumb i2 beingfurther preferably positioned in this operation with the spacer portion8 in contact principally with the inner side portion of the thumbrelative to the cutting edge 23 of the blade 3.

It is to be noted that the blade 3 of the knife I is disclosed as beingprovided with the point or pointed portion 21 which is located andextends beyond the coils 6 of the convoluted portion 5 so that the point21 is positioned so that it is free for digging eyes, specks, etc., outof the potato or similar object, or for similar operations with theguard mechanism mounted on the knife I.

It is to be noted that my guard mechanism is especially adapted for useas an accessory with the knife I and may be readily installed thereon orremoved therefrom as desired by the operator. In installing the guardmechanism on the knife I, the point 21 of the blade 3 is insertedbetween the desired pair of coils 9 and then the blade 3 is slidablymoved longitudinally through and between said pair of coils in a planesubstantially bisecting the angular space between the index thrust guardI6 and the spacer portion 8 until the convoluted portion 9 is adjacentthe forward end of the handle 2, when the guard mechanism may bepivotally moved, relative to the blade 3, about the convoluted portion 9as a pivot center, until the convoluted portion 5 is positioned with theblade 3 between the desired pair of coils thereof and with the spacerportion 8 substantially parallel with and spaced from the cutting edge23 as disclosed in Fig. 2, the procedure being substantially reversed toremove the guard mechanism from the knife I.

When it is desired to produce and develop shoe string or french frypieces, slices or strips of a potato or similar object, the slicermechanism, comprising the wire 28 and the cutters or blades n wer 33 and31 forming'a loop or bent portion each 1 having the open upper end 32for receiving the blade 3 therein to position it between the sides 30and 3| with the cutting edge 23 in contact with I the closed lower end33, the sides 30 and 3| being preferably formed with a wider spacetherebetween at its lower portion adjacent the closed end 33, the sides30 and 3| being constructed with a curved formation, as disclosed inFig. 6, which allows the upper ends of the sides 30 and 3l adjacent theopen ends 32 to be positioned normally in contact with one another toallow the blade 3 to be inserted through the open ends 32, the sides 3E]and 3| being necessarily spread apart to receive the blade 3therebetween, the sides 33 and 3| inherently possessing resilientcharacteristics which will be increased by the spreading of the sides 33and SI to-cause the surfaces of the sides 1 3i! and3l, adjacent the openends 32, to grip the blade 3 andretain the slicer mechanism on the blade3, the Wire 23 of the slicermechanism terminating at the ends 34. Thewire 28 of the slicer mechanism is provided with the portions 35 whichare bent to extend outwardly and slightly downwardly from the blade 3,as viewed in Fig. 6,

the portions 35 being connected by the portion 33 which extendssubstantially parallel with the blade 3 and ina plane extendingtransversely to the blade 3 between its upper edge and its lower orcutting edge 23. i

The cutters 29 are provided with suitable openings, through whichextends the portion 36 of the wire23 andare spacedibythe spacer, bushingor it washer members 3i which are also provided with suitable openingsthrough which extends the portion 33, the cutters 29 and thespacermembers 3'! being suitably secured to the portion 36by welding,soldering or similar means. i

The spacers 3? are each preferably provided with a relatively largesurface 38 for contacting the cutters 28 andmay-be provided with acurved or spherical surface or shape extending to the relatively smallend surfaces 39 to present a smooth outer surface and pleasingappearance.

The cutters 29 are constructed with a semicylindrical shape at theportion 44 through which the portion 36 of the wire 23 extends and areeach provided with the cutting edges All extending substantially atright angles with the cutting edge 23, the cutters 29 being furtherprovided with potato or similar object.

the surfaces 4| which abut the fiat surface, of the blade 3, which islocated nearest the operator, the remaining peripheral edges of thecutters 29 respectively connecting one end of the surfaces 4! and thecutting edges 40 longitudinally with the peripheral edges of thesemi-cylindrical portions 24 through which the portion 36 of the wirewidth of theshoe strings, strips, slices, or pieces of the potato orsimilar objectwhile the depth of said shoe strings, strips, slices, orpieces will be i controlled and developed by the spaces 22 or 24 orsimilar adjusted spaces, the spaces 42 being disclosed in Fig. '7 asbeing rectangularwith sub stantially equal sides to form. alsquare, theblade 3being' positionedbetween the pairs, of coils, in

most from the spacer portion .8.

It'is tobe noted that the portions 430i the Wire 28. of the slicermechanism willbe. positioned, on the blade 3, adjacent the inner sidesof the convoluted portions and 9 of the guard mechanism, the slicermechanism, thus being retained longitudinally of the blade 3 by theguard mechanism.

'It is to be.understood. that the coils of the convoluted portions 5 and9' of the guard mechanism will possess sufficient resilientcharacteristics .to clamp and retain the guard mechanism,

in its operative mechanismon the blade 3 of the knife I. 1

. It is also to be noted that my mechanism provides means forresiliently attaching a guard mechanism to a blade offia knife togetherwith resilient means for transferring a thrust of a finger to a knifeblade and also provides means for resiliently attaching a slicermechanism to said blade. p 1 i In operation, the guard mechanism isassemthe convoluted portions 5 and 9, locatedfarther bled on the blade 3of the knife I and with the convoluted portion 5 pivotally moved away,from the blade, as above described, the slicer mechanism is assembled onthe blade 3, after which the convoluted portion 5 may be pivotally movedto the blade 3, the blade 3 being positionedbetween the selected pairsof coils of the convoluted portions 5 and 9 to provide the requisitethickness of the pieces of potato or similar object.

The potato or similar object is grasped in the left hand, for example,while the handle of the knife i is grasped in the other or right handwith the thumb 12 adjacent the lower side of the guard mechanism and theknife, the index finger 2! of i the hand grasping the knife, beingplaced in engagement with the index finger guard [6;

The cutting'edge 23 of the blade 3 of the knife I and the'cutting edgesof the slicer, mechanism are entered or inserted in and through thepotato or similar object with the spacer portion 8 sliding over theoutside of the potato or similar object, thepotato or similar objectbeing cut into pieces or strips according to the size'of the spaces 42.

If it is desired to accomplish only a paring or plain slicing operation,then the slicer mechanism maybe omitted and the guard mechanisminstalled alone on the knife I as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. i

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for a knife provided with a blade and a handle forslicing a potato or similar object, the combination of a guard mechanismprovided with convoluted portions at each of its ends, each of saidconvoluted portions comprising a plurality of coils together with aspacer portion connecting said convoluted portion and extendingsubstantiallyparallel with and in spaced relationship to saidblade, saidspacer portion being located in a plane extending substantially at rightangles to the broad surface of the blade and below its cutting edge,said spacer portion being adapted to be held in engagement with thepotato or similar object during the slicing operation, the blade of theknife being adapted to be .entered and frictionally held between a pairof V the operatorwhen the knife is held in the hand of the operatorforparing or slicing the potato or similar object, the other of saidconvoluted portions being located rearwardly from the point of the bladeof the knife to leave said point free for digging eyes, specks, etc.,from the potato or similar object, and a slicer mechanism provided withloop portions at each of its ends for resiliently engaging the sides ofthe blade of the knife to secure the slicer mechanism on the blade ofthe knife, said loop portions being located in engagement with the innersurfaces of said convoluted portions of said guard mechanism to furtherretain said guard mechanism ontheblade of the knife, said slicermechanism being further provided with a third portion extending in aspaced relationship with and substantially parallel with the broadsurface of the blade of the knife, said slicer mechanism being furtherprovided with a plurality of cutters mounted in spaced relationship onsaid third portion of said slicer mechanism and each having surfacesabutting the broad surface of the blade of the knife, said cutters eachhaving cutting edges extending adjacent the cutting edge of the blade ofthe knife and adapted to slice into strips the slice of the potato orsimilar object which is being sliced therefrom by the cutting edge ofthe blade of the knife.

2. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convolutedportions each provided with coils adapted to receive and frictionallyhold the blade of the knife therebetween, a spacer portion connectingsaid convoluted portions and extending substantially parallel with theblade of the knife and in spaced relationship therewith to control thethickness of the paring when said spacer portion is held in engagementwith the potato or similar object during the paring operation, and aplurality of cutters having portions irictionally engaging and securingsaid cutters to said blade, said portions of said cutters beingpositioned between said pair of convoluted portions to further retainsaid outters against movement longitudinally of said blade, said cuttersbeing adapted to slice said paring inv strips.

3. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convolutedportions adapted to clamp the blade of a knife, a spacer portionconnecting said convoluted portions and extending in a plane locatednormally below the cutting edge of said blade to maintain portions ofthe hand of the operator from the cutting edge of said blade, saidspacer portion being provided with resilient characteristics to permitit to be deflected and displaced to a position where portions of it arelocated above the cutting edge of said blade, and a plurality of cuttershaving portions resiliently engaging said blade, said portionsof saidcutters being located between and adjacent said convoluted portions toprevent movement of'said cutters longitudinally of said blade, saidcutters being adapted to out said paring into slices.

4. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convolutedportions resiliently engaging the blade of the to engage the potato orsimilar object, and a finger thrust portion extending above the blade oftheknife, said extension portion of said convoluted portion beingextended to form said finger thrust portion.

5. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convolutedportions resiliently engaging the blade of the knife, a spacer portionconnecting said convoluted portions and adapted to engage the potato orsimilar object, and a finger thrust portion extending above the blade ofthe knife, said finger thrust portion being provided with a resilientportion adapted to engage the blade of the knife and to transfer thethrust of the finger to the blade of the knife during the paringoperation, said convoluted portions, said spacer portion and said fingerthrust portion being formed of a sole piece of wire or similar material,said finger thrust portion being extended from one of said convolutedportions.

6. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, a guard mechanism comprising a wire forming asubstantially straight portion located in spaced relationship to theblade of the knife together with a plurality of coils at each end ofsaid straight portion for resiliently engaging the blade of the knife,said straight portion being adapted to engage the potato or similarobject during the paring operation, one of said plurality of coils atoneend of said straight portion being extended to form a finger thrustguard positioned above the knife and resiliently engaging said blade totransfer the thrust of the finger to said blade during the paringoperation.

7. In a guard mechanism for a knife having a blade for paring a potatoor similar object, the combination of a pair of convoluted portionsadapted to resiliently engage the blade of the knife, a resilient spacerportion connecting said convoluted portions and adapted to engage thepotato or similar object, said resilient spacer portion being normallylocated below the cutting edge of the blade of the knife, said resilientspacer portion being adapted to be displaced to a position whereportions of itself will be located above the cutting edge of the bladeof the knife, and a resilient finger thrust guard extending above theknife and provided with a portion for resiliently engaging the blade ofthe knife to transfer the thrust of the finger to the blade of the knifeduring the paring operation, said finger thrust guard being constructedby providing one of said convoluted portions with an extension portionextending upwardly adjacent one side only of said blade, said extensionportion being further extended across the upper edge of said blade toform said finger thrust guard.

8. In a slicer mechanism for a knife having a blade for slicing a potatoor similar object, the combination of a guard mechanism provided withportions for securement to said blade together with a portion forspacing said first mentioned portions, said last mentioned portionengaging said potato or similar object to control the thickness of theslice, and a plurality of cutters having portions for securement to saidblade, said portions of said plurality of cutters being placed adjacentsaid first mentioned portions of said guard mechanism to retain saidcutters longitudinally on and relative to said cut said slice intostrips, said plurality of cutters being further adapted to be removedfrom said blade to permit said knife to be used with said guardmechanism without said plurality of.

cutters.

9. In a slicer mechanism for a knife having a blade for slicing a potatoor similar object; the combination of a guard mechanism provided withportions for securement to said blade, said guard mechanism beingprovided with a portion for engaging the potato or similar object tocontrol the thickness of the slice, and a plurality of cutters havingportions for securement to said blade, said portions of said pluralityof cutters being positioned between and in substantial engagement withsaid portions securing said guard mechanism to said blade and to retainsaid cutters longitudinally of said blade, said plurality of cuttersbeing adapted to out said slice into controlling the thickness of theslice, and a combination of a mechanism mounted on said knife andprovided with a spacer portion for controlling the thickness of theslice, a member bent portion of said member in spaced relationsecured tosaid knife and provided with a portion bent outwardly from said blade,and a plurality of cutters telescopically mounted on said ship andadapted to out said slice into strips, said plurality of cutters beingprovided with resilient loop portions for clamping said blade.

12. In a sliver mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicinga potato or similar object, the combination of a mechanism mounted onsaid knife and provided with a spacer portion adapted to engage thepotato or similar obje'ctto control the thickness of the slice, a memberpro- 7 vided with a portion extending parallel with the face of theknife, said memberbeing provided with a pair of clamp portions forresiliently engaging said knife to secure said member thereon, and aplurality of cutters mounted on said por- "tion of saidmember in spacedrelationship to engage and cut the slice into strips.

13. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade having acutting edge for slicing a potato or similar object, the combination ofa mechanism mounted on said knife and provided with a spacer memberadapted to engage the potato or similar object to control the thicknessof the slice, a wire member securedto said blade and having a portionextending substantially parallelwith said blade, and aplurality ofcutters mounted on said portion of said wire member in spacedrelationship and each provided with a cutting edge extendingsubstantially at right angles to the cutting edge of said blade togetherwith a surface abutting the broad side of said blade.

14. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicinga potato or similar object;

the combination of a guard mechanism mounted on said blade, and a slicermechanism mounted on said blade, said slicer mechanism comprising asupport member formed by wire or similar material together with aplurality of cutters having surfaces abutting said blade to absorb thethrust reaction developed by said cutters in the slicing operation,said, cutters being mounted on said support member formed of wire orsimilar material.

15. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicinga potato or similar object, the combination of a structure mounted onsaid blade and provided with a portion extending substantially parallelwith said blade, and a plurality of cutters encircling said portion ofsaid structure, said plurality of cutters each having an edge portionabutting said blade to absorb thrust reactions imposed on said pluralityof cutters in the slicing operation.

16. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicinga potato or similar object,

the combination of a guard mechanism mounted on said blade and providedwith a portion for engaging the potato or similar object to govern thethickness of the slice, a member secured to said blade, a plurality ofcutters mounted on said member and abutting said blade, and washermembers secured to said member and spacing said cutters in theiroperative positions.

17. In a slicer mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for slicinga potato or similar object, the combination of a guard mechanism mountedon said blade and provided with a portion for engaging the potato orsimilar object to govern the thickness of the slice, and a plurality ofcutters supported by a structure having a portion extendingsubstantially parallel with said blade, said cutters having portionsresiliently clamped on said blade, said plurality of cutters eachencircling said portion of said structure, said outters being spaced toengage and cut the slices into strips.

18. In a guard mechanism for a knife provided with a blade for paring apotato or similar object, the combination of a pair of convolutedportions each provided with a plurality of coils adapted to frictionallyreceive and hold the blade of the knife therebetween, a spacer portionconnecting said convoluted portions and extending substantially parallelwith the blade of the knife and in spaced relationship therewith tocontrol the thickness of the paring, an extension portion connected withone of said coils of one of said convoluted portions, said extensionportion being located adjacent one side only of said blade, saidextension portion being extended to form a portion extendingtransversely across the upper side of said blade, said last mentionedportion being further formed to provide upwardly extending portionscurved to fit a finger of the operator, one of said upwardly extendingportions being further extended'inwardly to form a second portionextending transversely across and in engagement with the upper portionofsaid blade to provide means for transferring the thrust of the finger ofthe operator to said blade during the paring opera-,

tion. j

